Where Is an EEG Technician Employed?

by Carol Finch

EEG technicians run tests to monitor brain wave activity.

EEG technicians perform electroencephalographic tests that help physicians monitor activity in the brain and diagnose disorders, conditions or damage. Your role is to attach electrodes to a patient's scalp. These connect with an electroencephalograph machine to measure brain wave electrical activity. Although all EEG technicians do the same kind of job in any work environment, you can find work in a variety of different facilities.

Hospitals

Many EEG technicians work in hospitals or hospital groups. In these facilities, you might work in a hospital's EEG lab, its neurology department or a department focusing on a particular type of patient or condition, such as pediatric neurology or an epilepsy center. In some cases, you'll deal with patients from different departments within the hospital. In others you might only test patients with a specific condition or disorder. Typically, you'll work on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.

Private Practices

Some EEG technicians work for private medical practices and clinics. For example, some neurologists employ techs to help them administer EEGs to their patients in their offices and clinics. You might also find opportunities in clinics, medical centers and practices that deal with specific conditions, such as ADD, autism and epilepsy. In this scenario, you might run tests to diagnosis conditions. You might also be involved in long-term monitoring to help develop and modify treatment plans.

Research and Clinical Trials

EEG technicians are also involved in medical research programs and clinical trials. This type of monitoring can give useful information on a variety of illnesses and conditions, providing a better understanding of how to diagnose and treat them. Your role as an EEG tech in this environment involves testing a group or groups of people to monitor changes in brain activity at certain times or under certain conditions.

Mobile EEG Service Providers

Some hospitals, medical centers, care facilities and private practices outsource EEG monitoring to third-party service providers. The business employs you and then deploys you around its customer base to conduct tests as needed. This kind of service typically works on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. You're likely to travel to various healthcare locations to administer tests as part of your job.

Education and Certification

Many EEG technicians study electroneurodiagnostic technology in postsecondary settings at the certificate, diploma or associate degree level. It takes around a year to get a certificate or diploma and two years to get a degree. You also need a CPR certificate to work as a tech. Some EEG techs also focus on polysomnography, which examines the activity of the brain while patients are asleep. This may be useful if you want to work in clinics or programs that specialize in sleep disorders. The American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists manages certification for EEG technicians.

About the Author

Carol Finch has been writing technology, careers, business and finance articles since 2000, tapping into her experience in sales, marketing and technology consulting. She has a bachelor's degree in Modern Languages, a Chartered Institute of Marketing.certificate and unofficial tech and gaming geek status with her long-suffering friends and family.